Romantic and Inspiring Brush Embroidery Cakes

By Wendy McGowan

Brush embroidery is a exquisite technique that uses royal icing or buttercream. First it is piped onto the surface. Then using a damp paintbrush you gently touch the piping dragging inward. This technique was developed to mimic stitched embroidery. It is gorgeous and fun to create! Let's take a look at cakes, cookies, and sugar flowers that put brush embroidery to use, to learn how you can use it on your next project.

This stunning work of art by Mark Joseph Cakes
shows the simplicity and perfection that can be attained through hard work and practice. I love the use of the pale green fondant with white brush embroidery; I find it calming and soothing and could spend hours enjoying every detail.

This beautiful and fun 3 tier cake by A Piece O’ Cake
truly shows how the use of color in brush embroidery can enhance and brighten a cake. I love the mint green and the many shades and shapes of the pink petals. Combined, they give dimension and bring a natural, warm feel to the cake.

Photo via Bluprint member Bobbiesbaking

Brush embroidery is not just for cakes! Cookies are also a perfect way to make this technique shine. These cookies by Bluprint student Bobbiesbaking are almost too beautiful to eat.

Photo via Bluprint member My3CakesSugar flowers
can also be beautifully enhanced with brush embroidery, as it brings texture and depth to each petal. This gorgeous flower created by Bluprint student My3Cakes is a great example of the brush embroidery technique taught by Colette Peters
in her Bluprint class Vintage Cakes, Modern Methods. In her class you can learn everything you need to know about brush embroidery on cakes; it is fun to watch and easy to follow as she walks you through every aspect and detail.

Add elegance and style to your next project with brush embroidery!

Whether it's the Fourth of July, Memorial Day or just a hunting or summer camp-themed party, camouflage fondant makes your desserts look incredibly cool. The best part? It's so easy, your little cake decorators can get in on the fun.

Getting your hands dirty — and fully coated in sugar and flour — is the best way to get better at cake decorating. But there are some lessons you really don’t need to learn the hard way. Professional decorators spilled the secrets they wish they’d known from the get-go — steal 'em and you'll start making cakes like a total pro in no time.

Professionally-made cookies always seem to look smooth, seamless and gorgeous. But there's no magic involved, and you can totally make equally flawless cookies in your own kitchen. All you need are a few basic tips to help you perfect basic cookie decorating techniques and you'll be well on your way.

Bakers, put down your piping bags! There are ways to decorate with royal icing that don't require you to break out the piping tips, and they still result in a totally gorgeous sugar cookie. Whether you dip, spread, brush, splatter or drizzle, these techniques are all fun ways to achieve a batch of totally stunning treats.

The cake decorating world is full of fancy piping tips, clever cutters and specialty tools you can use to create amazing effects. But that doesn't mean you have to buy out the store to get started. Start with these basic cake decorating tools that can help you nail a flawless fondant or buttercream surface. Once you've mastered using them, the rest is just... icing.

Instead of paper place cards at your wedding, picture greeting your guests with something a little sweeter — like mini tiered cakes made from sugar cookies. On top of being elegant, these goodies are simple to make en masse, so they're perfect for your big day or bridal shower.

With one easy method, you can give your sugar cookies that smooth, unblemished look you see in bakeries. The secret is flooding, and it's all about mastering your royal icing. Here's how to get yours onto a cookie in a sleek, flawless style.

Even if you don't drink Earl Grey — or any other kind of tea — these adorable teapot cookies are perfect for baby and bridal showers, Mother's Day, or just a run-of-the-mill Saturday afternoon. They'll be just as fun to make as they are to eat!

Truth: turning plain sugar cookies into gorgeous works of art can feel a bit daunting. But with the right tools, a little wisdom and a fun-focused game plan, decorating with royal icing can get a whole lot easier. Here are some tips to get you started.

These DreamWorks Trolls cookies make us as happy as Poppy is... literally all the time. Even grumpy Branch looks adorable in cookie form! So round up the kids and whip up a batch of these easy-to-make cookies — then press play on one of the greatest films!

Round up the kids and head to the kitchen because it's baking time! Now that Dreamworks' Trolls World Tour is streaming, there's no better time to go all-out with a burst of color on movie night. Whip up a batch of colorful rainbow-frosted cupcakes and your little trolls will love digging in as soon as you press play.

You don't have to be a kid to love all things rainbows, especially when they look this sweet. Whether you go full-out with a colorful buttercream or just stick to the surprise-inside batter, these rainbow cupcakes are sure to be a hit.

Fact: everything's cooler when it glows in the dark, especially when it comes to sweets. But you don't have to limit yourself to glow-in-the-dark buttercream or slime cake — now you can bring the fun to your breakfast with "glonuts."

In the world of teeny, tiny treats, the French dessert known as petit fours reign supreme. These cute little squares of cake are wrapped in sweet fondant and usually topped with piped royal icing flowers. But if you want a more modern twist, this tutorial gives the sweets an update with brightly-colored coatings and a generous sprinkling of confetti.

While there’s something delish about a good buttercream flower on cakes, these days fresh flowers, due to their unfussy and colorful qualities, are blooming on cakes for birthdays, holidays, weddings and beyond.

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Vintage birdcages are oh-so-pretty for flower arrangements and party decor, but they’re extra sweet when turned into cupcakes. Here’s how to make ‘em for your Mama Bird, or anybody else who makes your heart take wing.

Yes, there's a secret hiding inside this cat cake. Instead of baking a traditional cake and covering it in fondant, there are crispy, crunchy rice cereal treats inside. Using these as a base provides structure and strength, allowing you to really give this cute critter a pop of personality. Serve him up at your next birthday party and guests will be purring with delight.